Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Early returns on the Andy MacPhail era have been positive. He has traded for prospects that have reinvigorated the farm system, added overlooked veterans and youth to the lineup and has given the Oriole faithful, for the first time in almost 15 years, real hope for the long term success of the franchise.

But there is still a long way to go. Andy MacPhail has a daunting task in turning this franchise around and if he does so, he will only be the second MacPhail to do so. His father, Lee, did the same thing nearly 50 years earlier.

In 1955, Paul Richards came over from the White Sox to take over as manager and General Manager of the fledgling Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore had lost 100 games in the previous year and Richards did indeed improve the team over the four years he held both posts. However, the best record the team could muster was 76-76 in 1957.

In 1959, Richards gave up the GM duties to 42 year old Lee MacPhail, the director of player personnel for the New York Yankees. Richards was covetous of the abundant young talent that the Yankees had accumulated in their farm system and MacPhail seemed to be the perfect partner to build the same kind of system for Baltimore.

MacPhail told Richards it would take him 6 or 7 years to catch the Yankees, a statement that would be prophetic. In 1966, 7 seasons later, the Orioles had captured a World Series title.

MacPhail had departed the Orioles for the offices of the American League after the 1965 season but his fingerprints were all over the championship team. Below are the starters and key contributors of the 1966 Baltimore Orioles. The players that MacPhail did not have a hand in acquiring for the Orioles are in italics

C Andy Etchebarren - Signed as an amateur free agent in 19611B Boog Powell - Signed as an amateur free agent in 19592B Davey Johnson - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1962SS Luis Aparicio - Acquired via trade from the White Sox in 19633B Brooks Robinson - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1955LF Curt Blefary - Selected off waivers from the Yankees in 1963CF Paul Blair - Drafted from the Mets in the 1962 first-year draftRF Frank Robinson - Acquired via trade from the Reds in 1966

OF Russ Snyder - Acquired via trade from the Athletics in 1961OF Sam Bowens - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1960IF Bob Johnson - Acquired via trade from the Sentors in 1962

SP Dave McNally - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1960SP Jim Palmer - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1963SP Wally Bunker - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1963SP Steve Barber - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1957SP John Miller - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1961

RP Stu Miller - Acquired via trade from the Giants in 1962RP Dick Hall - Acquired via trade from the Athletics in 1961RP Eddie Watt - Signed as an amateur free agent in 1961RP Moe Drabowsky - Drafted from the Cardinals in the 1965 Rule 5 DraftRP Eddie Fisher - Acquired via trade from the White Sox in 1966MacPhail's successor, Harry Dalton, made some great moves before and during the 1966 season adding, most importantly, Frank Robinson. He also added key relief arms Moe Drabowsky and Eddie Fisher. Brooks Robinson and SP Steve Barber were Paul Richards' signings before MacPhail arrived. Outside of those five players, MacPhail was responsible for the rest of the key contributors on the roster.

Here's hoping his son can have the same success...and that it won't take 7 years.